Hollywood Lite

I was drawn into “Hollywood Hustle” by a blurb connecting the author, actor Jon Lindstrom, to Amazon’s “Bosch” TV series. I assumed he was a story editor or had written an episode or two. The series is based on Harry Bosch, a character featured in dozens of novels by Michael Connelly. Jon Lindstrom actually had nothing to do with the writing, he was a featured actor in four episodes.

I have read nearly everything by Michael Connelly and am an ardent fan of the Bosch franchise, so it may be regrettably unfair to compare the two men’s work, but “Hollywood Hustle” struck me as a watered-down Connelly treatment. Hustle’s main character in this kidnapping thriller is a veteran actor, not a veteran cop— but running down the bad guys in familiar Los Angeles area settings had me longing for the original. The experience was not bad, the plot could probably be fitted into an episode of a TV crime drama. I just felt I could be reading something much more engaging.

Many may recognize Jon Lindstrom’s acting in the soap opera “General Hospital” for over forty years and he has had roles in “As the World Turns” and “True Detective,” as well as “Bosch” and others.

Thank you to Oceanview Publishing, Crookland Books, and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was intense! I couldn't put it down for more than a few minutes cause I needed to see what was happening! My heart was pounding as I was reading it, simultaneously scared of what might happen, but needing to see what happened next. Fantastic read that keeps you on the edge of your seat!

This debut thriller has aging B-list Hollywood actor Winston Greene learning that his drug-addicted daughter Clare has been kidnapped. The gang members wrongly assume that Greene has plenty of money & demand he hand it over to get Clare back. But due to a recent cancer scare & lack of medical insurance, all of his savings are gone.

So it's a wily race against time for Greene, with the help of stuntman friend Graham Winchester & former LAPD detective Teddy Boudreau, to save Clare. This was a fast-paced read and shows the author knows the seedy sides of Hollywood & Los Angeles.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.

I was undecided about this book. I did read it in one day, because parts interested me and other parts were slow. I gave it a 4* because of that. I believe I would still recommend this book.

A dark thriller that plunges he reader into the seedy side of Hollywood. Well written.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fans of fast-paced thrillers will devour Jon Lindstrom's "Hollywood Hustle." Set against the backdrop of the glamorous yet ruthless film industry, the novel explores complex themes of family, loyalty, and the consequences of past actions, all while keeping you guessing until the very end.

I wouldn’t blame you for being dubious about another celebrity crime novel given the recent spate of books by famous people and the accompanying controversies. Jon Lindstrom is well-known for his work on soap operas, including General Hospital and Santa Barbara. However, Lindstrom is also a successful scriptwriter and herein lies the difference.

Full review: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.com/2024/03/01/hollywood-hustle-jon-lindstrom/

An interesting premise as an actor leverages his connections to find his kidnapped daughter. Nicely set in Hollywood/LA. Interesting cast of characters.

Hollywood Hustle drew my attention with its blurb. A washed up actor who had battled alcoholism. He wasn't very close to his daughter but still saw her and his granddaughter periodically. During his time in acting, he'd made some good connections, including a stuntman and detective that he'd kept in contact with. When his daughter is abducted by what appears to be a gang and they obviously are looking for a ransom, he will need all the help and friends he can find.

This book had great potential but moved a bit too slowly for me. I feel like it revisited some of the information repeatedly even when it wasn't needed. I still liked it but would have enjoyed it more if it had a little more zip to it.

AUDIOBOOK: The audiobook was more enjoyable because the author did his own narration. As a person with an acting background, he did a wonderful job. The audiobook was by far more enjoyable that reading it on my own. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

Los Angeles is well known for celebrities and Winston Greene is just your B list actor trying to survive in Hollywood. Like most he has experienced hardships with his wife dying tragically and his daughter who is addicted to drugs. One night some thugs show up at his house to drop off his granddaughter and he is told his daughter has been kidnapped and unless he pays the ransom then they will kill her.

There’s only one problem Winston isn’t as rich as the kidnappers expect. The clock is ticking and Winston needs to figure out a plan to save his daughter.

This was an enjoyable read and I found the premise to be pretty unique. I finished the book in less than a day and just overall enjoyed the story. I really enjoyed the character of Winston as well as his friend Grover. I really hope the author finds a new adventure for Winston and this book turns into a series. I would certainly recommend this one to thriller lovers everywhere

The writing places you right in the heart of the action, seeing these characters, even feeling their anxiety. You’ll bite your nails while cheering some on and wishing failure upon others. Hollywood Hustle is a must read and you will want to know what’s coming next.

I just finished Hollywood Hustle by Jon Lindstrom and here are my musings.

Winston Greene is a has-been. A B rate movie star who once had it all but now…. He is almost a nobody. Or at least he thought he was but when he wakes one morning to find his 6 year old granddaughter standing by his bed, brought to him by a man she does not know, holding a thumb drive. His daughter has been kidnapped and they want Win to pay with every single penny he has…. An amount any regular Joe might have in the bank. Not a movie star. His wealth is gone.

No police they say and the only person he can go to is a disgraced cop who has been his friend for years. He knows this group has killed before. He knows getting his daughter back will be hard but he will do anything he can to see her home safely.

I was pleasantly surprised by this debut. It’s better than most I have read. It was pretty well written and it held my attention. It was a bit monotone. The pace never got faster or slower. It just kind of plodded on. I found the character development was done really well. I liked Win, he was a solid character. I also liked Grover and Teddy. I think the author didn’t quite find the perfect balance between plot and character development but I really think the bones were there.

I liked the action and the conclusion was decent. I think it needed a bit of excitement but all in all, I enjoyed it.

3.75 stars

Thank you to @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for my gifted copy

#hollywoodhustle #jonlindstrom #debutbook #crookedlanebooks #thriller #bookreview #netgalley #kindle #ebook #arcreader #arcreview #bookalorian

This was a sad but inspiring story and could be a true story. It did have a happy ending, which always makes my day! This was my 1st book by Joh Lindstrom but will not be my last.

#HollywoodHustle
#NetGalley

Let me be frank— "Hollywood Hustle" by Jon Lindstrom left me feeling underwhelmed and unimpressed. As a reader eager for a gripping thriller, I found myself sorely disappointed by the lackluster execution of what could have been a promising premise.

From the outset, the novel introduces us to Winston Greene, a washed-up film star thrust into a frantic race against time to save his kidnapped daughter. While the stakes are undeniably high, I couldn't shake the feeling of detachment as I followed Winston's journey through the seedy underbelly of the LA film industry.

While I appreciate Lindstrom's attempt to infuse the narrative with tension and suspense, I couldn't help but find the plot contrived and the characters lacking in depth. Winston's actions often felt implausible, leaving me questioning the realism of his decisions in the face of danger.

Moreover, the heavy-handed use of movie references, while perhaps intended as an homage to Hollywood culture, came across as forced and gratuitous, adding little substance to an already lackluster storyline.

Despite my disappointment, I will concede that "Hollywood Hustle" does have its moments of intrigue and action. The fast-paced narrative may appeal to readers seeking a quick thrill, but for those craving depth and nuance, this novel falls short of expectations.

While "Hollywood Hustle" had the potential to be a gripping thriller, it ultimately failed to deliver on its promises. As a reader hungry for a compelling narrative, I found myself let down by the lackluster execution and superficial storytelling.

The first good thing I can say about this is that it was a fast read, so I didn’t feel like I wasted my time.
That said, the characters here are more stereotypes than fully fleshed out people. The addiction angle was handled well, but is so over done and this storyline didn’t bring anything new to the table.
Lindstrom clearly knows Hollywood and I did feel like it gave a glimpse behind the glitz and glamour. But I don’t think that was enough to make this a truly successful debut.
The friendship between the three lead men was refreshing, but their decison and actions were so out of alignment with reality.
The writing itself was fine, relying a bit too much on description—not uncommon in first novels and the dialog was ok. I’d suggest avoiding dialect in future works, the book doesn’t need that and it make the villains seem equally stereotypical.

When Winston Greene, a has been actor, wakes up one morning to his granddaughter standing beside his bed, he was unsure what exactly was going one. His daughter, Clare is an addict always looking for her next hit, but when he finds out she’s been kidnapped he’ll do anything to get her back. The only issue is that he’s not as rich as they think he is. Not even close. With the help of his dear friends, no stone is left unturned to find Clare. Will he be able to appease them long enough to rescue Clare or has he now put everyone else in danger? As the bodies pile up, no one is safe. This book was bit slow from the get go, finally warming up around the 75% mark. An OK read, but one that didn’t hold my interest the way I had hoped. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This is a fun read which, while not credible, is fast paced and engaging. I really enjoyed the insights into the industry and loved the characters, with all their quirks.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

i wish i could say that i had enjoyed it and i have to say it started off really well and drew me in but alas it couldnt hold my attention and i put it down

i can see that others thoroughly enjoyed this book though and i can only put it down to my mood of what i want to read rather than the book

Kidnapping and intrigue in movie land

Winston Greene is a "B-List" movie star living in the LA area. His films are the ones that show up late at night, usually action thrillers. But he's been in a lot of them and people tend to recognize him on the streets, asking him for his autograph.

One morning he wakes up and Amy, his traumatized granddaughter is standing by his bedside with a thumb drive for him. His daughter, Clare (Amy's mother) has been kidnapped and the thugs want him to pay a huge ransom...from his movie earnings, you know. They don't realize he's broke.

So Win, with a couple of friends, has to figure out how to save his daughter from men who 1) don't believe he's not a millionaire actor, and 2) aren't afraid to kill anyone standing in the way of what they believe is going to be a big payoff.

This was a quick moving thriller that I recommend especially if you like crime stories that take place in the LA area or involve the movie industry, which this touches on.

I received this Digital Review Copy from Crooked Lane Books through Net Galley and Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review. This is that review.

Lindstrom does an admirable job on his first novel with good characters and descriptive backgrounds in an area he knows well. The ending gets a little soapy but the story has enough drama and action to hold your interest until the end.